Puerto Vallarta

Hola!
We just returned from beautiful Puerto Vallarta. The city itself sits along the Pacific coast of Mexico in protected Banderas Bay (Bahia Banderas). The bay is host to dolphins, fish, and, seasonally, whales. The Bay is surrounded by the majestic Sierra Madre range of mountains. While Puerto Vallarta is in the sate of Jalisco, we actually stayed at a resort in Nuevo Vallarta, the planned resort community just north of the city. Nuevo Vallarta is in the state of Nayarit (pronounced nigh-a-REET) home of the developing "Riviera Nayarit".

The beaches are wide and clean, the mountains are breathtaking, and the activities are virtually endless. There are excursions to the Marietas Islands, made famous by Jacques Cousteau, and home to many species of interesting birds and fish, day trips to Las Caletas, former tropical escape for director John Huston, canopy tours, sport fishing, ATV tours, adventure challenges, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, and golf - the list goes on and on.

We were told that Puerto Vallarta's water supply is very clean and that they have received numerous awards for the cleanliness of their water supply. While we didn't drink anything other than bottled water, we tend to believe the claims as there are at least 3 fresh water rivers coming into Puerto Vallarta from the Sierra Madres.


The city of Puerto Vallarta is large, but not too big. Cruise ships dock here. The city is built coming down from the mountains along the edge of the bay. It has an artsy flair with many artists displaying their paintings, bronze sculptures along the boardwalk, and sand sculptures on the beach. The architecture is reminiscent of old European cities.

So, who should consider Puerto Vallarta as a destination?
Adventure tourists (hiking, rappelling, ziplining, ATVing)
Snorkelers and divers (many options for exploring the underwater world)
Beach Bums (clean, gently sloping beaches, warm water, waves to ride)
Golfers (right now, there are no fewer than 7 golf course in the area with an 8th being built)
Families (the wide variety of activities ensures no one gets bored!)
Luxury Travelers (The five star Grand Velas and Four Seasons are in the area)
Shoppers & Foodies (The shops, including the Flea Market, and restaurants will satisfy your cravings)
Honeymooners (A wide range of resorts cater to every budget. Peaceful pools, blissful beaches)

Have I missed anyone?

More about some specific resorts we inspected in my next post! Adios for now.